Closure Cap For A Detergent Bottle

ABSTRACT

A closure cap for a detergent bottle, the closure cap including at least one cap wall having a plurality of surface elements spaced apart from one another. The surface elements each have a circumferential edge, starting from which the particular surface element extends from a datum plane of the cap wall, and which surrounds a base of the surface element located in the datum plane of the cap wall. In order to form a smooth transition from the datum plane that does not have a notch effect, a radius of curvature is provided at the circumferential edge that is larger than the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a closure cap for a detergent bottle, the closure cap comprising at least one cap wall having a plurality of surface elements spaced apart from one another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A closure cap of this kind is known, for example, from U.S. D597,844 S (U.S. patent Design). The surface elements are dots or protuberances, each of which has a circumferential edge in the form of a circle, starting from which the particular dot extends from a datum plane of the cap wall, and which surrounds a circular base located in the datum plane of the cap wall.

It is known that the surface elements on the cap wall are used to pretreat stains on a laundry item to be cleaned. Several drops of the detergent from the detergent bottle are applied to the stain and then rubbed into the material of the laundry item by means of the closure cap having the surface elements or portions of which the surface is rough. It is known from EP 2 867 131 B1 that the surface elements for pretreating stains can be rings, ribs, nubs, bristles, fibers etc., these surface elements extending in a more or less sharp-edged manner from the datum plane of the cap wall.

When it comes to distributing the detergent bottle equipped with the above-mentioned closure cap, distribution channels involving e-commerce are becoming increasingly important. When shipping a bottle via parcel services, it can no longer be guaranteed that the detergent bottle will stay upright at all times. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that there may be relatively great forces or impacts acting on the bottle and the closure cap, at different angles, when the bottle is being transported. In the worst case, excessive forces or impacts on the closure cap can result in the closure cap breaking, or the closure cap no longer being able to reliably help seal the detergent bottle. A broken closure cap or an untight detergent bottle resulting in detergent leaking therefrom should be avoided as far as possible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a closure cap for a detergent bottle that can be used, inter alia, for pretreating stains, and also has an advantageous surface roughness and, above all, meets the increased demands of distribution via e-commerce.

The object of the invention is solved by the combination of features of the closure cap. Embodiments of the invention can be found in the appended claims.

According to the invention, in order to form a smooth transition from the datum plane of the closure cap, a radius of curvature is provided at the circumferential edge of each of the surface elements, which radius of curvature is larger than the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.

What is referred to as a drop test, in which the filled detergent bottle comprising the closure cap is dropped from a certain height onto a flat impact surface, with the head or closure cap facing downward, has shown that the surface elements according to the prior art have a negative influence on the strength of the closure cap and/or on the tightness of the closure cap. By contrast, surface elements having a soft transition according to the invention lead to very good results in terms of breaking strength and maintenance of the tightness of the detergent bottle. The closure cap according to the invention comprising corresponding surface elements can also achieve better results in the drop test than a closure cap that does not comprise any surface elements.

Due to the soft transition from the datum plane of the cap wall to the particular surface element according to the invention, a notch effect together with associated stress peaks can be avoided. Without being bound by this theory, one reason for the advantages of the closure cap according to the invention over a closure cap that does not comprise any surface elements could be that the surface elements according to the invention result in a certain distribution, redirection or dispersion of the forces that act on the closure cap on impact during the drop test. On account of the forces being distributed or dispersed, the breaking strength of the closure cap can be increased and/or the unit consisting of the detergent bottle and closure cap can withstand a higher drop height in the drop test. Notwithstanding the very smooth transition from the datum plane to the surface elements, the closure cap according to the invention can also be used sufficiently well for laundry pretreatment, for example for combatting stains. In addition, the surface elements very generally increase the surface roughness of the outside of the cap, and therefore the closure cap can be easily opened and closed even under adverse environmental conditions, for example in a damp environment.

In one embodiment, the base of the surface element is circular. The base can, however, also have an oval shape or any other shape. In the case of a circular base, the diameter of the base simultaneously represents the largest longitudinal extent. In the case of an oval base, it is the larger diameter of the oval that forms the largest longitudinal extent. The diameter of a circular base can be, for example, from 0.5 to 3 mm, preferably from 1 to 2 mm.

The surface element is preferably designed as an outwardly directed raised surface portion. For example, the surface element can be an outwardly directed circular protuberance. In principle, the surface element can also be an inwardly directed surface indentation. In this case, the surface element could be a circular depression, as is known, for example, in the case of the surface of a golf ball.

The raised surface portion can be formed in one piece with the cap wall and can be made of the same material as the cap wall. The cap wall is preferably made of polyethylene or polypropylene. The cap wall can, however, also optionally be made of a different plastic or material from that of the surface elements.

In one embodiment, the radius of curvature is twice as large as the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element. The radius of curvature can be at least three times or even four or six times larger than the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element. For example, the radius of curvature can assume values of between 1 and 10 mm.

The largest height of the surface element can be less than one tenth of the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element. The largest height of the surface element can also be less than one tenth of the smallest longitudinal extent. This results in very flat, but still raised surface elements, by means of which it is still possible to pretreat stains and a higher degree of grip of the cap outer surface is ensured, and which do not, however, exhibit an undesirable notch effect, but rather help to relieve the stress on critical points by dispersing, diverting or redirecting the impact forces during the drop test. If the surface adjustment is directed inward, the largest depth of the surface element can be less than one tenth of the largest longitudinal extent or even the smallest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element. In the case of a circular base, there is no distinction between the largest longitudinal extent (in the datum plane of the cap wall) and the smallest longitudinal extent (in the datum plane of the cap wall, perpendicular to the largest longitudinal extent); they each correspond to the diameter of the base.

The height of the surface element can preferably assume values between 0.05 and 0.5 mm. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the height is from 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

The cap wall of the closure cap can be a cylindrical or conical lateral face, the surface elements preferably being arranged over the entire circumference of the lateral face. Additionally or alternatively, the surface elements can also be arranged on an end wall of the closure cap.

The number of surface elements can vary in the circumferential direction of the lateral face. This means that more surface elements are provided at one particular circumferential angle than at a different circumferential angle. In one embodiment, a circumferential angle having the most surface elements is offset by 180° to a circumferential angle having the fewest surface elements. The surface elements can be arranged in a regular pattern on the cap wall or lateral face, wherein a distance in the circumferential direction and a distance in the axial direction between two adjacent surface elements can each be constant. In principle, there is no upper limit to the number of surface elements on the cap wall. A number between 50 and 150 is advantageous.

The closure cap can have an internal thread for being screwed onto the detergent bottle. However, other fastening means (bayonet lock, plug-in connection, snap-in connection, clip connection, and other positive or non-positive connections, etc.) by means of which the closure cap can be detachably fastened to the detergent bottle are also conceivable.

The closure cap preferably has a seal made of a material that is softer than the material of the cap wall. Preferred materials for the seal are thermoplastic elastomers (TPE).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1C shows a detergent bottle comprising a closure cap in different views;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the closure cap; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal section through a surface element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a detergent bottle 1 in three different views. FIG. 1A shows the container in a front view, FIG. 1B shows the container in a first side view and FIG. 1C shows the container in a second side view. The detergent bottle 1 comprises a main body 2, which defines an interior space for receiving the liquid detergent. The volume of the interior space can be, for example, from 500 ml to 5000 ml. In the embodiment shown, a handle 3 is molded into one side of the main body 2.

A closure cap 10 is placed on an upper end of the main body 2. The closure cap 10 has a cylindrical basic shape. A region 12 having circular surface elements 13 is provided on a slightly conical cap wall 11, which represents a lateral face of the cylindrical basic shape. As a result, the closure cap 10 can be used to effectively rub the detergent into particularly heavily soiled regions of the laundry to be cleaned. Furthermore, the surface elements 13 facilitate the handling of the closure cap 10 by increasing its surface roughness. It can be seen that the region 12 is not symmetrical, but has a particular orientation with respect to the main body 2 or the handle 3. For example, a lower end 14 of the region 12 is arranged precisely above the handle 3. There are more surface elements 13 (see FIG. 1C) above the handle 3 than in the lateral face region of the closure cap 10 that is offset by 180° (see FIG. 1A).

The closure cap 10 is placed on a pouring aid 4, which is almost completely concealed in FIG. 1, which aid is screwed to the main body 2 by a thread (not visible). The pouring aid 4, which should theoretically be assigned to the detergent bottle 1, has an external thread onto which the closure cap 10 can be screwed.

In a central region, the closure cap 10 (see FIG. 2) has a cylindrical outer wall 15 and a cylindrical inner wall 16, which define a receiving space 17. Owing to the cylindrical walls 15, 16, the receiving space 17 assumes the shape of an annular cylinder. In the view of FIG. 2, the annular cylinder is open at the bottom.

An annular seal 18 is arranged in the receiving space 17, which makes it possible to seal the pouring aid 4, onto the external thread of which aid the closure cap 10 can be screwed. For this purpose, the closure cap 10 has an internal thread 20, which is also arranged in the receiving space 17. Above the receiving space 17, the slightly conical cap wall/lateral face 11 extends as far as a circular flat end wall 19. The surface elements 13 can be seen schematically in FIG. 2.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the detergent can be measured and dosed using the substantially rotationally symmetrical closure cap 10. Correspondingly, markings are provided in a lower region for an amount of 50 ml or 70 ml, for example. When the closure cap 10 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the lower region projects into the detergent bottle 1.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a single surface element 13. The surface element 13 is shown as a hatched portion. The cap wall or the lateral face 11 defines a datum plane E from which the surface element 13 extends.

The surface element 13 has a circumferential edge 21 which is formed as a circle in the embodiment of FIG. 3. This circle has a diameter D. The surface element 13 is intended to be symmetrical about a central axis 22.

The maximum height of the surface element 13 is H. With a diameter D of the circumferential edge 21 of from 1.7 to 1.9 mm, H is preferably less than 0.2 mm, for example from 0.1 to 0.16 mm.

In order to form a smooth transition from the datum plane E, a radius of curvature 23 is provided which is larger than the diameter D. The diameter D corresponds to the largest longitudinal extent of a base of the surface element. Here, the base is a circular surface of the circle having the diameter D. The radius of curvature 23 is approximately 110% of the diameter D.

Starting from the circumferential edge 21, the contour of the surface element 13 initially follows the radius of curvature 23 or the associated circular path 24 until the contour reaches a central region 25 of the surface element 13. An inner diameter 26 can be assigned to the central region 25. In the central region 25, the contour of the surface element 13 no longer follows the circular path 24, but instead forms a rounded, convex center 27. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the inner diameter 26 is approximately 35% of the diameter D of the base. The inner diameter 26 can be 25 to 60% (preferably 30 to 50%) of the diameter D. The contour of the surface element has an inflection point in the central region 25 or also directly at its outer boundary.

Due to the particularly smooth transition created by the large radius of curvature 23, the surface element 13 does not lead to undesirable stress peaks in the material of the closure cap 10 when, as simulated in the drop test, the closure cap 10 is exposed to high impact forces. Instead, the surface elements 13 result in the forces being dispersed or deflected, and therefore the forces do not penetrate the seal 18 or the internal thread 20 without being damped or impeded or cause damage to the seal or the internal thread.

As already mentioned, as an alternative to the raised, concave embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which protrudes upward from the datum plane E, the surface elements 13 can also have a convex design that extends downward into the datum plane E.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   1 container -   2 main body -   3 handle -   4 pouring aid -   10 closure cap -   11 cap wall/lateral face -   12 region -   13 surface element -   14 lower end -   15 outer wall -   16 inner wall -   17 receiving space -   18 seal -   19 end wall -   20 internal thread -   21 circumferential edge -   22 central axis -   23 radius of curvature -   24 circular path -   25 central region -   26 inner diameter -   27 center 

What is claimed is:
 1. A closure cap for a detergent bottle, the closure cap comprising at least one cap wall having a plurality of surface elements spaced apart from one another, each having a circumferential edge, starting from which the particular surface element extends from a datum plane of the cap wall, and which surrounds a base of the surface element located in the datum plane of the cap wall, wherein, in order to form a smooth transition from the datum plane, a radius of curvature is provided at the circumferential edge, which radius of curvature is larger than the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.
 2. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the base of the surface element is circular.
 3. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the surface element is designed as an outwardly directed raised surface portion.
 4. The closure cap according to claim 3, wherein the raised surface portion is formed in one piece with the cap wall and is made of the same material as the cap wall.
 5. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature is at least twice as large as the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.
 6. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the largest height or largest depth of the surface element is less than one tenth of the largest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.
 7. The closure cap according to claim 6, wherein the largest height or largest depth of the surface element is less than one tenth of the smallest longitudinal extent of the base of the surface element.
 8. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap wall is a cylindrical or conical lateral face, the surface elements being arranged over the entire circumference of the lateral face.
 9. The closure cap according to claim 7, wherein the number of surface elements varies in the circumferential direction of the lateral face.
 10. The closure cap according to claim 1, wherein an internal thread is provided for screwing onto the detergent bottle.
 11. The closure cap according to claim 1, characterized by a seal made of a material that is softer than the material of the cap wall. 